Global Category Manager, Market Research

Global Category Manager, Market Research

Job description

Job Description

An opportunity has arisen for a Global Category Manager, Market Research to join the Publicis Groupe Procurement team. The Procurement team is a board-mandated function providing holistic procurement business solutions to the companies within Publicis Groupe.

The department’s motto is to Protect, Enrich, Challenge and Reduce Publicis Groupe spend via best-in-class procurement processes and negotiations.

The department manages full cycle, from sourcing to vendor and contract management.

This role will be based in our London office. Please only apply if you have the right to work in UK.

Position Summary :







The Senior Category Manager will be responsible for managing the full procurement cycle of a range of Market Research spend products and services, focusing on either regional or global opportunities with occasional market specific projects focused on Publicis key markets.

Previous experience with Market Research and Data Acquisition procurement (such Market Intelligence, Social Listening, Media Ratings ) in association with the sales cycle is preferred.

Additional exposure to implementation of complex solutions would be an added advantage.

The Senior Category Manager will work on the category and on the vendor management closely with and under the direction of the Global Procurement Director Production responsible for category strategy formulation.

The Category Manager will be expected to have the maturity to work independently with minimal supervision, be able to use advanced business acumen to work through business opportunities, design execution plans and make optimal recommendations for ratification and approval by the Global Procurement Director Production.







The Category Manager will use their knowledge and expertise to interact with very senior level stakeholders, gather and refine requirements, perform market analysis, draft RFX, execute go to market approach, negotiate contract and commercial positions and manage the vendors contracts.

Key Responsibilities :

- Undertakes complex spend analysis, spots patterns, trends and opportunities and makes recommendations for new project or commercial and legal improvement opportunities to the Global Procurement Director Production.
- Undertakes market research and consults stakeholders to understand technical and commercial aspects of a range of complex business needs.
- Works with various stakeholders to shape and articulate complex business needs and outcomes,





whilst ensuring alignment of procurement plans to wider organisational strategic objectives.
- Prepares category and sourcing strategy for approval by CPO and / or Global Procurement Director Production; explores and assesses appropriate options and tailors actions accordingly.
- Prepares well-structured RFX documentation containing relevant information for complex requirements, including shaping qualitative criteria and pricing schedules and running fair, transparent and efficient competitive bidding processes.
- Oversees or directs the evaluation process for complex or politically sensitive procurements to ensure compliance with all policy requirements and to drive value for money outcome.






- Ability to draft contract terms from a standard template and negotiate contractual terms : ensures the application of principles of contract law in procurement and uses knowledge to provide influential advice to senior stakeholders.

Engages with senior legal experts on complex contract law matters.

- Ability to write implementation plans, communications and create business plans
- Advises on the development of the contract management strategy for complex requirements based on risk, the nature of the contract, and its importance to achieving agency and government objectives.

Identifies and designs plans for the vendor management and ensures their execution, regularly meets and manages vendors, provides with strategic plans, opportunities and updates.

- Challenges and offers suggestions to improve procurement activities,





where appropriate, including identifying opportunities for aggregation.
- Responsible for tracking savings and cost avoidance potential, dealing with financial planning and forecasting

Qualifications

Required Skills / Experience :

- Minimum 5 years’ experience of category management and executing complex RFP processes
- Developed project management skills : highly organised and able to prioritise tasks
- Advanced negotiations skills
- Business acumen : sound financial, legal and communication skills
- Politically savvy : ability to build and maintain effective working relationships
- Previous experience of working in a fast paced,





dynamic and entrepreneurial procurement environment
- A proven team player with excellent communication skills, analytical skills and attention to detail
- Completely literate in English language and one other

Qualifications and Certifications :

- Educated to degree level or equivalent